Water, land, and air machine.



E. E. GREGORY. WATER, LAND, AND AIR MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 4, 1913.

Patented Apr. 28, 1914.

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ATTORI/EKS WITNESSES E. E. GREGORY. ,WATEB, LAND, AND AIR MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 4, 1913.

Patented Apr, 28, 1914.

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( INVENTOI? ATTORNEYS ,d l idz ELI'EDWARD' GREGORY, OF CENTRAL CITY, KENTUCKY.

warns, LAND, AND AIR MACHINE.

roac es.

Specification of Letters Patent. I Patented Apr, 28', 1914.:

Application'file'd November 4-, 1913. Serial No. 799,216.

To' all whom it may ooncem: 1

Be it known that I, ELI E. GREGORY, a citizen of the United States, and aresident of Central City, in the county of Muhlen berg and State of Kentucky, have made certain new and useful Improvements in Water, Land, and Air Machines, of which the following is a specification. Y

My invention relates to improvements in hydroplanes which are also adapted to run on land,-and it consists in the combinations, constructions, and arrangements herein described and claimed.

An object of my invention is to provide a device which is so constructed that it may be used as an aeroplane, as a boat, or a land vehicle without any change in the device when going from one element to the other.

A further object of my invention is to provide a device of the type described hav ing novel means for directing the course of the device. 7

A further object of my invention is to provide a novel form. of hull for use on the water which. serves as the main sustaining plane when used in air.

Other objects and advantages will appear in the following specification and the novel features of the device will be particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

My invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings forming partof this application in which Figure 1 is a central vertical section through the device, Fig. 2 is a section along the line 2-2 of Fig. 1, Fig. 3 is a section along the line 33 of Fig. 1, Fig. l is a plan view of the device, Fig. 5 is a section'aloug theline 5-5 of Fig. 1, and Fig. 6 is a plan view of a portion of the steering apparatus.

In carrying out my invention I provide a central longitudinal frame member 1 extending from end to end of the machine; At substantially one-fourth of the member 1; from one end I arrange a triangular frame composed of the horizontal cross member 2 (see Fig. 2) and the inclined members 3. Cables 4 are secured to the front and rear ends of the main longitudinal frame member 3, 1 and to the three points formed by thei triangular frame which is com osed of the; members 2 and 3. The hull 1s completed by stretching flexible material such as thatshown at 5 over the frame work thus formed. This may be done in a variety of ways. I

prefer to make use of wire netting on which with waterproofing material thus forming a strong, waterproof, flexible member 5 which is light, but which is sufficiently strong to serve as a sustaining plane when in air or as the body portion of the hull when the device is to be used. in water.

Secured at the junction of the members 3 (see Fig. 2) is a thrust bearing 6 upon which is mounted a vertical post'7, the latter passing through the longitudinal members 1 and also through the horizontal member 2. This post supports a rigid cross rod 8 to which is pivotally secured by means of rings 9 which encircle the arm 8 a light bar 1() of canvas is sewed, after which it is treated substantially the same length as the bar 8.

(larried by the bar 10 is the forward elevating plane 11 which is constructed in a man ner similar to the construction of the hull. It-will be observed that this plane 11 is curved from" front torear as shown in Fig. 1. It bears a central fin 12 which projects upwardly as shown in Fig. 2.

Near the rear end of the machine is a vertically extending post 13 which is mount ed on the main frame 1, as shown in Fig. 3. The lower end of this post is provided with a fork 14 which supports a wheel 15. The upper end carries a cross bar or rod 16 to which is pivotally connected'by means of rings 17 a bar 18 which bears the rear controlling plane 19. This plane 19, as will be seen from Fig. 1, is also provided with a central fin 20 constructed of similar material to the front elevating plane 11 and the hull.

The motor is disposed near the front part of the machine, as shown at M. The shaft of the motor 21 extends rearwardly and is connected by a belt 22 with a shaft 23 which bears the propeller 24. The shaft 23 is mounted on a frame 25, which is carried by a cross member 26 (see Fig. 5).

For controlling the side movement of the.

-(see Fig. 4) connect with the ends of the front quadrant 30 and are secured to a. rear quadrant 32. These w1res 31 are crossed,

thereby turning the rear vertical post 13 in theiopposite direction from the front vertical post 7, thus turning the rear fin20 simultaneously and in the opposite direction one direction the front end of the front When the lever is moved in the opposite direction the reverse movement of the two planes takes place.

In order to provide for use on land front wheels 37 are provided, the axle 38 being carried by telescopic members 39 which are provided withv springs 40 to resist the shock of impact when the machine descends.

The rear wheel 15, as has been before stated, is mounted on the same spindle or rod 13 which bears the rear rudder or fin 20. Therefore when the steering wheel 27 is turned the rear wheel acts as a steering member without the necessity of any. additional steering mechanism, thus the machine may be guided on land as well as in air. Furthermore by covering the space within the rim of the rear wheel with fabric or other suitable material the rear wheel can be made to serve as a, rudder when the device is to be used as a boat.

It will be seen thatI have provided a device having a great range of capabilities. The peculiar shape of the body portion renders it particularly adaptable for use both in water and in air, so that it will float readily when in water and will be buoyed up bythe pressure of the air when used as an aeroplane.

1. In a combined water, land, and air ma chine, a central. longitudinal frame member,

a triangular frame portion disposed near one end of said longitudinal frame member,

cables connecting the front and rear ends of said longitudinal. frame member wlth the three angles of said tr angular frame memher, a flexible waterproof fabric extending.

from the front end of the longitudinal frame member rearwardly underneath the triangular shaped frame portion and being connected tothe rear end of said longitudinal, frame member.

2. In a combined water, land, and air machine, a hull having a body portion of waterproof fabric, a front supporting post-and a rear supporting post, each of said posts being mounted fol-revolution about their axes, a guide plane carried by each of said supporting posts, each of said guide planes having a body portion normally at right angles to its supporting post and pivoted thereto, and a vertically extending fin disposed centrally of said portion.

8. In a combined Water, land, and air machine, a hull having a body portion of waterproof fabric, a front supporting post and a rear supporting post, each of said posts be ing mounted for revolution about their axes, a guide plane carried by each of said supporting posts, each of said guide planes having a body portion normally at right angles to its supporting post and pivoted thereto. a vertically extending fin disposed centrally of said portion, and means for rotating said support-ing' posts simultaneously and in opposite directions. 4. In a combined water, land, and air machine, a hull having a body portion of waterproof fabric, a front supporting post and a rear supporting post, each of said posts being mounted for revolution about their axes, a guide plane carried by each .of said supporting posts, each of said guide and a rear supporting wheel carried by said rear supporting post and movable therewith for supporting the device on land.

5. In a combined water, land and air machine, a hull having a body portion of waterproof fabric, a front supporting post and a rear supporting post, each of said posts being mounted for revolution about their axes, a guide plane carried by each of said supporting posts, each of said guide planes having a body portion normally at right angles. to its supporting post and pivoted thereto, a vertically extending fin disposed centrally of said portion, means for rotating said supporting posts simultaneously and in opposite directions, and means for simultaneously tilting the front and rear guide planes in. opposite directions.

ELI EDW'ARD GREGORY.

l'Vitnesses:

N. HENmuoK, Grouse Wan-Es. 

